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Water reuse in agriculture: HypoWave+ research project at IFAT 2022

19.05.2022 | ISOE
© HypoWave

The process of agricultural food production with recycled water, successfully developed in the HypoWave research project, is entering large-scale application for the first time. On a small scale, the model for hydroponic vegetable production with recycled irrigation water will be on display at IFAT in Munich. The HypoWave+ research team will be presenting the project from 30 May to 3 June 2022 in Hall B2 at the stand of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

Agricultural vegetable production is water-intensive. But now, water scarcity has become a global problem that is being exacerbated by advancing climate change. In order to ensure the highest possible yields, new, water-saving cultivation methods are being sought. With the HypoWave+ research project led by the Technical University of Braunschweig, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is funding the implementation of an alternative form of agricultural cultivation in combination with water reuse on an industrial scale. The HypoWave process enables regional, water-conserving and year-round vegetable cultivation in greenhouses and thus offers an alternative to conventional vegetable production. 

Regional food production despite water scarcity

The hydroponic process, in which plants in containers without soil are supplied via a nutrient solution using recycled water, was successfully tested in the predecessor project in Hattorf, Lower Saxony. The research team led by project manager Thomas Dockhorn from the Technical University of Braunschweig and project coordinator Martina Winker from the ISOE – Institute for Social-Ecological Research is now presenting the process at the IFAT in Munich. At the BMBF stand, the scientists will be presenting the innovation on a model scale: with the HypoWave method, an alternative to irrigation with drinking water and groundwater can be developed. The cultivation method also offers an optimised nutrient supply, as vital nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus are supplied to the plants from the treated water.

The HypoWave process at IFAT 2022

Visit the HypoWave+ research team at IFAT from 30 May to 3 June 2022 in Hall B2 at the joint stand together with the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Scientists from TU Braunschweig, ISOE – Institute for Social-Ecological Research, Fraunhofer IGB as well as representatives of the practice partners Integar and Huber SE will be happy to provide you with information about water reuse in hydroponic cultivation and the technical and non-technical requirements for implementing the process.  

The HypoWave+ research project

The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is funding the project “HypoWave+ Implementation of a Hydroponic System as a Sustainable Innovation for Resource-Efficient Agricultural Water Reuse” within the funding measure “Water Technologies: Water Reuse” as part of the federal research program on water “Wasser: N”. Wasser: N contributes to the BMBF “Research for Sustainability” (FONA) Strategy. The funding amount comes to 2.8 million euros. The research network led by the Technical University Carolo-Wilhelmina zu Braunschweig, Institute for Urban Water Management (ISWW) includes the following project partners: ISOE – Institute for Social-Ecological Research, Fraunhofer-Institut für Grenzflächen- und Bioverfahrenstechnik IGB, University of Hohenheim (UHOH), Wasserverband Braunschweig (AVB), Wasserverband Gifhorn (WVGF), IseBauern GmbH & Co. KG, aquatune GmbH (a Xylem brand), Ankermann GmbH & Co. KG, Huber SE, and INTEGAR – Institut für Technologien im Gartenbau GmbH.

For more information on the research project please go to: www.hypowave.de  

Visuals for your use are provided under www.flickr.com/photos/102295333@N04/albums/72157688518183561 


Scientific contact:

Dr.-Ing. Martina Winker 
Tel. +49 69 707 6919-53
winker(at)isoe.de 
www.isoe.de  

Press contact:

Melanie Neugart
Tel. +49 69 707 6919-51
neugart(at)isoe.de 
www.isoe.de